From the Louisville Courier Journal:
Rusal, a Russian aluminum company, has invested heavily in a mill that the North American company Braidy Industries has planned for Eastern Kentucky — and according to a Senate Intelligence report on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, Rusal is a “proxy for the Kremlin.”
In 2019, journalist Morgan Watkins reports in the Louisville Courier Journal, Rusal agreed to invest $200 million in Braidy’s mill. And the bipartisan Senate Intelligence report, released on August 18, describes Russian oligarch and Rusal co-owner Oleg Deripaska’s ties to the Kremlin.
…
The Senate committee's report, which examines Russian efforts to interfere in America's 2016 presidential election, says: "Deripaska's companies, including RUSAL, are proxies for the Kremlin, including for Russian government influence efforts, economic measures, and diplomatic relations."
www.courier-journal.com/…
The first thing I thought when I heard about the Russian aluminum company’s massive investment in Kentucky was, “this is obviously Putin’s doing.” But never in a million years did I think that the GOP-chaired Senate Intelligence Committee would officially concur.
Mitch McConnell will likely claim he had no idea that Rusal was a proxy for the Kremlin. But as a member of the “Gang of Eight”, will anyone believe him?
Bye-bye Mitch.
Update 4:29pm ET: From hannah, in the comments:
The Ashland, Kentucky plant for Braidy Industries is still in the planning stage. They just got a new CEO.
The $200 million pledged is a smidgeon of the $1.5 Billion. Never mind that the plant is being planned to “penetrate the supply chain.” Can you imagine that?
www.braidy.com/…
Update 9:40am ET 08/21/2020: Mitch McConnell appears to have suddenly cancelled his live appearance at next week’s RNC. Hmmm. From AP, via USA Today:
In a reversal, Mitch McConnell's campaign said Thursday that the Senate majority leader will tape remarks for Republican National Convention, hours after an aide announced he would not have a speaking role at the event.
"Sen. McConnell is submitting taped remarks, and there was a miscommunication," a McConnell campaign source, who asked for anonymity in order to speak freely, told USA TODAY.
Earlier, McConnell campaign spokeswoman Kate Cooksey said in a statement on that the Senate majority leader would be "traveling across all corners of Kentucky next week to speak with families, workers and job creators about their needs."
www.usatoday.com/...
